CNC machines are extremely versatile instruments. At a machine store, they will machine all types of steel and plastic elements. Past that, they will engrave varied supplies together with glass, and even create PCBs. [Steve] has a CNC machine of his personal creation in his store, and whereas he is perhaps using it for these frequent makes use of, his inventive creations are on the showcase for immediately with these 3D topographic reduction maps.
The important thing to creating topographic reduction map is an efficient materials inventory. [Steve] is working with plywood as a result of the pure layering within the materials mimics topographic traces very nicely, particularly with the high-quality marine-grade birch plywood he’s utilizing. Ensuring to pick items with out knots improves the ultimate product considerably, as does taking the time to fill in any voids. Deciding on good inventory is barely a part of the method although. [Steve] is utilizing a brand new piece of software program from the College of Kansas to create the mannequin which will get fed to the CNC machine. The software program is known as TouchTerrain and is an enormous enchancment over different comparable software program packages.
With good inventory and the flexibility to simply create 3D topographic maps, anybody with a CNC machine like this might simply reproduce their terrain of selection. We think about the method is perhaps simply ported to different instruments like 3D printers, supplied the decision is excessive sufficient. We’ve additionally seen comparable builds utilizing laser cutters, though the tactic used is a little bit totally different.